Customs duty on Xmas presents to EU countries

[Guest]

Has anybody reckoned if there is a way to send presents to family and friends living in EU countries via Royal Mail or other couriers without the awful surprise for them to be asked to pay these awful taxes? It is really the worst thing when you are receiving a present to be asked to pay customs duty.

[diable rouge]

When I've sent presents to the EU via Amazon, the duty has been added at purchase, pretty sure the recipients haven't had to pay anything...

[jazzer]

You should be asked to complete a declaration that is stuck to the Royal Mail package, you tick a box to say its a present, hence no additional costs for he receiver.

[IlonaM]

I have found with presents to France recipient has not had to pay, so long as below £39, but Italy has a much lower threshold and I belatedly found out that presents above E19/20 incurred a charge for the recipient. Now I'm much more careful what I send.

See [oldish] Which article from Nov 2021: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/delays-and-extra-fees-post-brexit-rules-you-need-to-know-before-sending-gifts-this-year-a49uY1I6CCga

I think the Guardian has also done articles in the past, but haven't found them .

See also Royal Mail re post-Brexit rules: https://www.royalmail.com/brexit

On occasion I have found a local online store, i.e. based in Italy, which has cut out risk of charges.